Date:         Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:13:02 -0400
Reply-To:     Akshaya <akshaya.nathilvar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Akshaya <akshaya.nathilvar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Find MAX length of values of all character variables.
Comments: To: "Data _null_," <iebupdte@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTikFKa-zvNLSsKxonf-tOtezH3Fh9hJ_+R=dGhZO@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Query the dictionary (Columns) table, create a macro variable and use it in
the array:

Proc sql;
    select count(*) into:cnt
        from dictionary.columns
            where libname='SASHELP' and memname='SHOES' and type='char';
Quit;

%let cnt=&cnt;

array mlen{*} m1-m&cnt; array len{*} l1-l&cnt;

AkshayA!


On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 3:21 PM, Data _null_; <iebupdte@gmail.com> wrote:

> Your approach is similar to mine, measure and keep the max length for
> each variable..  I was looking for a way to avoid defining an array
> that I don't know the dimension of.  That's why I thought an
> associative array would be useful.
>
> On 8/27/10, Akshaya <akshaya.nathilvar@gmail.com> wrote:
> > This is a sample code which we usually use for your defined problem:
> >
> >
> > Data shoes(keep=name length);
> >     set sashelp.shoes(keep=_character_) end=eof;
> >     array c{*} _character_; array mlen{*} m1-m3; array len{*} l1-l3;
> >
> >     do _i=1 to dim(c);
> >         len[_i]=length(c[_i]);
> > mlen[_i]=max(mlen[_i],len[_i]);
> >         if eof then
> >         do;
> >             name=vname(c[_i]); length=mlen[_i]; output;
> >         end;
> >     end;
> >
> >     retain m:;
> > Run;
> >
> >
> >
> > AkshayA!
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 5:07 PM, Data _null_; <iebupdte@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > I know we've done this a million times but I can find it.  My
> > > searching skills need work.
> > >
> > > I want to measure the length of the values each character variable
> > > keeping the max.  My data will will have an unknown number of
> > > character variables so I need some flexable code. I thought using an
> > > associative array would be good.  This is my prototype.  It assumes
> > > the input data does not use underscore variables maybe I should add a
> > > few more underscores.
> > >
> > >
> > > data _null_;
> > >   if 0 then set sashelp.shoes(keep=_character_);
> > >   length _dummy_ $1;
> > >   array _c[*] _character_;
> > >   length _i_ 8 _name_ $32 _length_ 8 _rc_ 8;
> > >   declare hash cv(ordered:'Y');
> > >   cv.defineKey('_i_');
> > >   cv.defineData('_i_','_name_','_length_');
> > >   cv.defineDone();
> > >   call missing(_i_,_name_,_length_);
> > >   if dim(_c) gt 1 then do;
> > >      do until(eof);
> > >         set sashelp.shoes(keep=_character_) end=eof;
> > >         do _i_ = 1 to dim(_c)-1;
> > >            _rc_ = cv.find();
> > >            _length_ = max(_length_,length(_c[_i_]));
> > >            _rc_ = cv.replace();
> > >            end;
> > >         end;
> > >      do _i_ = 1 to dim(_c)-1;
> > >         _rc_ = cv.find();
> > >         _name_ = vname(_c[_i_]);
> > >         _length_ = max(_length_,length(_c[_i_]));
> > >         _rc_ = cv.replace();
> > >         end;
> > >      end;
> > >   rc = cv.output(dataset:'MAXCHARLEN');
> > >   stop;
> > >   run;
> > > proc contents data=maxCharLen;
> > > proc print data=maxCharLen;
> > >   run;
> > >
> >
> >
>